Archive

  • Birthday heartache for dad

    As Steve Pumfrey signed his daughter's sixth birthday card, he could only cross his fingers and pray she receives it. He has not seen her since February. With the card, Steve, 33, enclosed photos of Tayla's aunts, cousins and grandparents. Steve, a plumber

  • Vicar raps lazy parents

    A vicar has condemned parents who want to protect their children from paedophiles but still let them roam the streets and commit crime. The Rev Terry Stratford, whose church borders the parish where eight-year-old Sarah Payne was abducted, spoke out after

  • Jealous assault

    A man had his legs squashed between two cars during a heated argument with his girlfriend's former partner. Worthing Magistrates Court heard how William Hibbert, 41, had the new boyfriend pinned by his legs between the two vehicles. Unemployed Hibbert

  • Success

    I would like to thank The Argus for printing details of the Thyroid Friends' Group. Judging by the turn-out at our first meeting, thanks at the end and phone calls afterwards, it was a great success and much-needed by those attending. Jemma, who is just

  • Mystery blaze

    A home was destroyed after a mystery fire broke out and engulfed it in flames. Firefighters from Worthing used breathing masks and a hose to control the blaze at the ground-floor flat in Meadow Road, Worthing, at 10pm on Sunday - but not before the damage

  • Sports for kids

    Karate displays, canoes and DJs are just a few of the attractions on offer at a sports fair for young people. Local sports clubs are attending the event next Wednesday at Boundstone Community College, Lancing. Club members will man interactive stalls

  • Easy mistake

    The Argus should not be too ashamed of mistaking a late mark Spitfire with the Battle of Britain machine. It happens all the time. One way to spot the early marks is the yellow, blue, white and red roundels. These were the same width. Later the yellow

  • Cycle lane fears

    There is confusion over who would be responsible if there was an accident on the proposed new cycle lane along Worthing seafront. Worthing Borough Council is considering whether to start work on phase one of the controversial scheme, which would result

  • Child loss

    As a parent, I have dreaded the thought of losing a child. Hearing that Sara and Michael Payne have split because of the loss of Sarah is so tragic. They have both, however, been blessed by a new arrival - a baby girl. She will not replace Sarah but she

  • Bid to save bizarre animal collection

    Thousands of stuffed and posed kittens, squirrels and rabbits are at the centre of a desperate £2 million fund-raising fight. The creatures, which date back more than 100 years, are the creation of Walter Potter, taxidermist extraordinaire. Working from

  • Who cares?

    I have done some research into pensions and benefits and have found out that, if a woman was born after April 6, 1955, she will not be paid an old age pension and men and women will not be eligible for the minimum income guarantee and the Pension Credit

  • Lamp causes fire

    A woman's flat was badly damaged by fire after she left a bedside lamp on. Firefighters battled to put out the blaze in a ground-floor flat in Gratwick Road, Worthing, at 11pm last Wednesday but the heat and smoke caused extensive damage. Heat from the

  • Church renamed

    A church has announced it is adopting a new name - and says the change is more than cosmetic. Broadwater Christian Fellowship in the Oasis Centre, Broadwater Road, Worthing, is, as of Sunday, to become the River of Life Church. Church leaders say the

  • Car smashes into living room

    A mother had an amazing escape when a car smashed through the front of her home. Lisa Henley, 37, narrowly escaped with her life when the vehicle careered into the living room of her £100,000 bungalow. Police and firefighters raced to the scene in East

  • Breakdance plea

    Organisers of a dance music project aiming to produce the next Fatboy Slim are urgently seeking a sponsor. Gravity - The Force is a countywide project due to hit the streets of Worthing soon. Designed to inspire youngsters aged between 13 and 19, it will

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    In July I really wanted to do it; in August I couldn't wait to get started; in September I got cold feet. Learning Spanish, that's what we're talking about - learning Spanish at evening class, to be more precise. Serious self-improvement has the greatest

  • Youthful invite

    Young people in Worthing are invited to enrol in the WMCS Youth Company, which begins its new term on September 20. The group offers workshops in all aspects of musical theatre to children aged eight and above. It meets each Saturday, during term time

  • Police thinking is completely absurd

    Do police officers have to pass an intelligence test before being promoted? I seriously doubt it. I refer to just three of many recent inexplicable decisions taken by Sussex police chiefs. A Worthing policeman said he would be only writing to the parents

  • Birdman hopes

    Arun District Council is hoping international airline Virgin Atlantic will continue to support the Bognor Birdman competition. Following the success of this year's event, which involved daring individuals hurling themselves off Bognor pier to try to travel

  • College boss calls for fees hike

    University of Brighton chief Sir David Watson is to call for a £900 increase in student tuition fees. The vice-chancellor will argue increasing the flat rate to £2,000 is better than government plans for controversial "top-up" fees. Sir David said he

  • Back in a flash

    Reading about the recent theft of a valuable Leonardo da Vinci painting from a Scottish castle reminded me of an incident which took place in 1957 at Butlins Holiday Camp in Pwllheli, north Wales, where I was the public relations officer. Each camp had

  • Car badge thefts

    Police are warning of a rise in the trend of removing badges from cars. The fashion, inspired by US rappers The Beastie Boys, has resulted in Volkswagen Beetles and BMWs being vandalised in the north Lancing area. A spokesman for Adur police said: "There

  • Old favourite

    Seventies rock star Alvin Stardust will be playing Captain Hook this Christmas at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing. He will star in Peter Pan opposite his wife, Julie Paton, in the title role. Kids will not have a clue who Alvin is now he is 61 and eligible

  • Wrong choice

    It is difficult to know which is more outrageous. The fact that Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive David Panter, who has just received a massive pay increase of £25,000 (21 per cent), has spent thousands of pounds of council money wining and

  • Football round-up: Rocks are beaten

    Bognor remained second in Ryman League premier division despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat away to Aylesbury. The Rocks were left to rue a string of missed chances in a hard-fought contest. Having weathered the early home pressure, Rupert Sansom could have

  • Pets win the day

    Some of the finest pets in Arundel were on show at the town's fringe festival. Dogs, ferrets, hamsters, cats, rabbits and a 50-year-old tortoise made up the competitors for the festival's children's pet show. Zoe Van Ewyjk won the dog class with Buffy

  • Worthy cause

    Organisers of an appeal for the Martlets Hospice in Hove did a brilliant job when they raised the money for the building. But they knew the really hard work started after that, when money had to be gathered year on year for the running costs. The Quids

  • Good value

    While we appreciate that all due care needs to be taken over council spending, it does seem that the current headlines are just a storm in a wine glass. It is obvious the chief executive will be spending a £100 per week on entertainment. He is our City's

  • Football: Rogers bags winner for Worthing

    Paul Rogers grabbed a dramatic stoppage time winner for Worthing last night, just when they thought they had been done up like kippers. Referee Eric Mackrell disallowed a Sam Francis strike and waved away two clear penalties in a bewildering 12 minute

  • Floral awards

    Floral displays earned awards at the Arun in Bloom and Arun Towns in Bloom competitions this year. The winners were honoured at an award ceremony in Littlehampton Civic Centre, hosted by Arun's chairman Councillor Dr James Walsh. The Arun in Bloom competition

  • No to workshops

    An application to build industrial workshops and maisonettes was rejected because it would be too noisy for future residents. Worthing's planning committee thought plans to develop a builder's yard in Goring Road did not include enough parking spaces

  • Ryman: Rooks a class apart

    Lewes 6, Horsham 1: Horsham boss John Maggs is in no doubt Lewes will win the Ryman League division one south title this season. After all, he had just seen his side taken apart at the Dripping Pan last night. A hat-trick by former Wimbledon trainee Ahmet

  • Comment: Ian Hart

    Saturday night wouldn't be Saturday night in my household without a visit to the 24-hour garage to buy a Sports Argus after the Albion game. Vintage Vinners is usually the first page I turn to. John's subject last weekend was former Albion manager Alan

  • Cricket: Kirtley left out of test squad

    There was misery for Sussex fast bowler James Kirtley today when he was left out of England's Test squad for the winter tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Kirtley, who took 13 wickets in two Test appearances against South Africa earlier this summer, is

  • French market

    A French market is coming to Worthing again this weekend. There will be approximately 30 stalls selling a wide section of continental goods, including bread, cheeses, tablecloths and soaps. Marche Francais UK, which runs traditional markets across the

  • Big social diary for directors

    The Institute of Directors (IOD) has organised a number of activities to keep Sussex businesses busy this autumn. Events includes a networking business breakfast at Ashdown Park Hotel, near Forest Row, on September 18 and an evening on knowledge management

  • In running for e-business awards

    Three Sussex businesses have been shortlisted for a national e-commerce award. History.uk.com, Identilam and RSPCA Freedom Food are on the South-East shortlist in the fifth annual UK online for business awards. The regional winners in the categories e-business

  • Two more years for Thameslink

    Rail chiefs have extended the Thameslink franchise to operate between Brighton and Bedford for another two years. The Strategic Rail Authority announced it would begin talks with parent company Govia about extending the franchise, which was due for renewal

  • OAPs in mining feud

    An elderly couple are trapped in their home because a mining company wants £100,000 to give up its claim on the land. Edward and Jill Day were unaware the deeds to their property, which date back to the Fifties, allow British Gypsum to bore for minerals

  • Computer bug alert for firms

    Small businesses were today urged to protect themselves from the growing threat of computer viruses. The Argus revealed how Sussex Police and local authorities in the county had been hit by a virus which affected their networks. But while the problem

  • Doctor on stage

    They say laughter is the best medicine and a family doctor is putting on a show to prove it. Tim Kimber of Park Surgery in St Flora's Road, Littlehampton, has enlisted friends to stage A Song For St Barnabas, a razzmatazz show based around songs from

  • Dealers take over beach

    Public school girls attracted by the "gangster" lifestyle have joined drug gangs on Brighton seafront. Police believe pupils at some of the county's top schools are being used to carry drugs by dealers who have turned the beach into a war zone. Traders

  • Injured driver improves

    A property developer was said to be improving in hospital today after his classic car overturned during a racing festival. Rupert Avon, 38, of High Street, Steyning, was driving a C-type Jaguar during a practice session on Friday for the Goodwood Revival

  • Overnight walk

    An overnight charity walk on the South Downs Way is being held on September 20 and 21. The walk, in aid of St Barnabas Hospice in Columbia Drive, Worthing, and the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice in Angmering, will include an overnight stop at

  • Man sat on rail lines

    The case against a man convicted of sitting on railway lines has been adjourned. John Holloway, 37, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, was found guilty of trespassing on a railway and sitting on the lines on May 10 this year. He did not appear at Eastbourne

  • Just champion

    World swimming champion Katy Sexton put youngsters through their paces at a pool in Littlehampton. Katy trains in Portsmouth and has remained friends with Great Britain swimmer Lauren Short, who teaches at Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre in Sea

  • Jay suspect's tragic end

    A man who had been accused of killing father-of-two Jay Abatan outside a night club hanged himself while suffering from depression, an inquest heard. Graham Curtis, 42, and another man had been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Abatan but the allegations

  • Escaper back in custody

    A convict who absconded from a jail and led police on a dangerous pursuit after breaking into a series of cars is back in jail. Daniel Skillin, 24, left Ford Open Prison on June 30 while serving a five-year sentence for attempted robbery. After making

  • Hunt for hate attack pair

    Police are hunting two men who attacked a gay couple outside the Palace Pier in Brighton. A 19-year-old man from Swindon and his 38-year-old boyfriend from Australia were passing the pier at about 11.45pm last Wednesday when two men began shouting homophobic

  • Dealers take over beach

    Public school girls attracted by the "gangster" lifestyle have joined drug gangs on Brighton seafront. Police believe pupils at some of the county's top schools are being used to carry drugs by dealers who have turned the beach into a war zone. Traders

  • A Wry Look at Worthing

    Worthing's taxi drivers are generally a smart lot, courtesy of a council rule that states they must be at all times clean and tidy in appearance. The dress code bans swimming costume and singlets, which won't trouble one particular cabbie, who wears the

  • Suez veterans to get medals

    Sussex servicemen who fought in the Suez conflict could be honoured with medals as early as Remembrance Sunday. Hove MP Ivor Caplin, a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence, made the pledge in the House of Commons. Sussex veterans fought a long campaign

  • Former festival director dies

    An entertainment pioneer who became the first artistic director of the Brighton Festival has died at the age of 84. Sir Ian Hunter also ran the Edinburgh Festival during its early years and founded other festivals at Bath, the City of London, Malvern

  • Woman who braved the skies

    On Saturday, June 2, 1913, Miss Violet Paine made history. Thousands of spectators gathered along the seafront on this bright, blustery, summer's afternoon for the first ever scheduled visit by an aeroplane. Several pioneering aeronauts had buzzed the

  • Couple trapped by mining contract

    An elderly couple are trapped in their home because a mining company wants £100,000 to give up its claim on the land. Edward and Jill Day were unaware the deeds to their property, which date back to the Fifties, allow British Gypsum to bore for minerals

  • Birthday heartache for dad

    As Steve Pumfrey signed his daughter's sixth birthday card, he could only cross his fingers and pray she receives it. He has not seen her since February. With the card, Steve, 33, enclosed photos of Tayla's aunts, cousins and grandparents. Steve, a plumber

  • Vicar raps lazy parents

    A vicar has condemned parents who want to protect their children from paedophiles but still let them roam the streets and commit crime. The Rev Terry Stratford, whose church borders the parish where eight-year-old Sarah Payne was abducted, spoke out after

  • The price of peace

    I read with interest your former reporter Grant Hodgson's experiences in post-war Iraq (The Argus, August 28). The tragedy of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing the UN's special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, brings home to us all that

  • Mystery blaze

    A home was destroyed after a mystery fire broke out and engulfed it in flames. Firefighters from Worthing used breathing masks and a hose to control the blaze at the ground-floor flat in Meadow Road, Worthing, at 10pm on Sunday - but not before the damage

  • In too deep

    By the time the Labour Party Conference starts in a couple of weeks' time, the full extent of US involvement in Dr David Kelly's death will have become only too apparent. Only then will we fully see how a British Prime Minister made such a terrible mistake

  • Sports for kids

    Karate displays, canoes and DJs are just a few of the attractions on offer at a sports fair for young people. Local sports clubs are attending the event next Wednesday at Boundstone Community College, Lancing. Club members will man interactive stalls

  • Easy mistake

    The Argus should not be too ashamed of mistaking a late mark Spitfire with the Battle of Britain machine. It happens all the time. One way to spot the early marks is the yellow, blue, white and red roundels. These were the same width. Later the yellow

  • Cycle lane fears

    There is confusion over who would be responsible if there was an accident on the proposed new cycle lane along Worthing seafront. Worthing Borough Council is considering whether to start work on phase one of the controversial scheme, which would result

  • Child loss

    As a parent, I have dreaded the thought of losing a child. Hearing that Sara and Michael Payne have split because of the loss of Sarah is so tragic. They have both, however, been blessed by a new arrival - a baby girl. She will not replace Sarah but she

  • Free pet checks

    Pet owners are being offered free health checks for their animals. Staff at the Northdale Vets' Surgery in Victoria Road, Worthing, will carry out the check-ups as part of National Pet Check Week, a new initiative organised by the People's Dispensary

  • Bid to save bizarre animal collection

    Thousands of stuffed and posed kittens, squirrels and rabbits are at the centre of a desperate £2 million fund-raising fight. The creatures, which date back more than 100 years, are the creation of Walter Potter, taxidermist extraordinaire. Working from

  • Church renamed

    A church has announced it is adopting a new name - and says the change is more than cosmetic. Broadwater Christian Fellowship in the Oasis Centre, Broadwater Road, Worthing, is, as of Sunday, to become the River of Life Church. Church leaders say the

  • Rap for airport security

    Security at Gatwick has been criticised ahead of tomorrow's second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Chris Yates, editor of transport defence magazine Jane's Transport, said there were serious shortfalls in airport security. His attack

  • Chris may be next Pop Idol

    The next Will Young or Gareth Gates could hail from Sussex. Pop Idol's judges have whittled down more than 20,000 contestants from across the UK to just 50 - and Chris Hide, from Lancing, is one of them. The 18-year-old, who performed From The Heart by

  • Protesters fight for woodland

    Campaigners fighting to save ancient woodland from housing developers are planning a protest. Protect Our Woodland! is holding a demonstration and public meeting on Saturday to win more support. Worthing Borough Council has earmarked the land in West

  • Thank you

    On August 16 we held our annual Flag Day in Worthing. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave money. We raised £2,000, a tremendous effort in just one day. Thanks are also due to those who collected for us and all the buskers

  • Youthful invite

    Young people in Worthing are invited to enrol in the WMCS Youth Company, which begins its new term on September 20. The group offers workshops in all aspects of musical theatre to children aged eight and above. It meets each Saturday, during term time

  • Work with us

    It was encouraging to see the objective and accurate article (The Argus, September 3) about the empty properties campaign we are pursuing in Worthing. We have been working on bringing properties back into use for several years but it is only now, with

  • Dr Martens: Late winner denies Borough

    A goal seven minutes from time condemned Eastbourne Borough to a 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville. Borough seemed to be on course for a deserved point before James Taylor's 83rd minute strike settled matters. The first half was a scrappy affair

  • Birdman hopes

    Arun District Council is hoping international airline Virgin Atlantic will continue to support the Bognor Birdman competition. Following the success of this year's event, which involved daring individuals hurling themselves off Bognor pier to try to travel

  • Back in a flash

    Reading about the recent theft of a valuable Leonardo da Vinci painting from a Scottish castle reminded me of an incident which took place in 1957 at Butlins Holiday Camp in Pwllheli, north Wales, where I was the public relations officer. Each camp had

  • Car badge thefts

    Police are warning of a rise in the trend of removing badges from cars. The fashion, inspired by US rappers The Beastie Boys, has resulted in Volkswagen Beetles and BMWs being vandalised in the north Lancing area. A spokesman for Adur police said: "There

  • War reality

    Well done, Nyana Joti, whose posing as a victim of war, covered with fake blood and lying, as if dead, on Churchill Square's pavement, allegedly caused a ten-year-old child to scream hysterically because it looked so real (The Argus, September 5). And

  • Wrong choice

    It is difficult to know which is more outrageous. The fact that Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive David Panter, who has just received a massive pay increase of £25,000 (21 per cent), has spent thousands of pounds of council money wining and

  • Pets win the day

    Some of the finest pets in Arundel were on show at the town's fringe festival. Dogs, ferrets, hamsters, cats, rabbits and a 50-year-old tortoise made up the competitors for the festival's children's pet show. Zoe Van Ewyjk won the dog class with Buffy

  • Worthy cause

    Organisers of an appeal for the Martlets Hospice in Hove did a brilliant job when they raised the money for the building. But they knew the really hard work started after that, when money had to be gathered year on year for the running costs. The Quids

  • Rap for airport security

    Security at Gatwick has been criticised ahead of tomorrow's second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Chris Yates, editor of transport defence magazine Jane's Transport, said there were serious shortfalls in airport security. His attack

  • What waste

    Well, what a surprise, Brighton and Hove City Council's flamboyant but disastrous chief executive, David Panter, has been wasting public money again. What on earth are some councillors doing defending such actions? I have witnessed first hand one of Mr

  • Dr Martens: Marney nets again

    Crawley 2 Cambridge 0: Crawley snapped out of the gloom of their frustrating draw on Saturday by notching a comfortable win despite being reduced to ten men. First-half goals by Daniel Marney and Mo Harkin secured three points for the Reds in an assured

  • No to workshops

    An application to build industrial workshops and maisonettes was rejected because it would be too noisy for future residents. Worthing's planning committee thought plans to develop a builder's yard in Goring Road did not include enough parking spaces

  • Please don't make us pay for care

    To anybody who is sitting on the board at Brighton Town Hall tomorrow and has a vote to decide if people with learning difficulties should pay for their own day care, please read the following as it is written from the heart: Forty four years ago, a male

  • Belarus boost

    A Findon-based initiative helping prevent babies being abandoned in Belarus has been awarded £126,000. The International Grants Committee of the National Lottery has agreed to fund the Leaves of Hope project. The scheme is aimed at trying to prevent babies

  • Golf: Course judged above par

    Golfers are flocking to a Worthing club thanks to a £400,000 investment which has trebled its membership. The future of Hill Barn Golf Course was in doubt when members became frustrated with its ageing facilities. Now, club membership has leapt from 87

  • Dutch elm fears

    Dutch elm disease has flared up in Worthing again. Staff employed by the borough council's parks department are planning to fell infected trees. Earlier this year, they cut down numerous immature trees at The Gallops in Findon Valley. Many had sprung

  • Fun of the fair

    The Findon Sheep Fair is taking place on Saturday, despite strict regulations imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The fair used to involve a huge auction of sheep and a host of other attractions, including Robert Harris's traditional fair ground

  • In running for e-business awards

    Three Sussex businesses have been shortlisted for a national e-commerce award. History.uk.com, Identilam and RSPCA Freedom Food are on the South-East shortlist in the fifth annual UK online for business awards. The regional winners in the categories e-business

  • Computer bug alert for firms

    Small businesses were today urged to protect themselves from the growing threat of computer viruses. The Argus revealed how Sussex Police and local authorities in the county had been hit by a virus which affected their networks. But while the problem

  • Doctor on stage

    They say laughter is the best medicine and a family doctor is putting on a show to prove it. Tim Kimber of Park Surgery in St Flora's Road, Littlehampton, has enlisted friends to stage A Song For St Barnabas, a razzmatazz show based around songs from

  • Overnight walk

    An overnight charity walk on the South Downs Way is being held on September 20 and 21. The walk, in aid of St Barnabas Hospice in Columbia Drive, Worthing, and the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice in Angmering, will include an overnight stop at

  • Man sat on rail lines

    The case against a man convicted of sitting on railway lines has been adjourned. John Holloway, 37, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, was found guilty of trespassing on a railway and sitting on the lines on May 10 this year. He did not appear at Eastbourne

  • Just champion

    World swimming champion Katy Sexton put youngsters through their paces at a pool in Littlehampton. Katy trains in Portsmouth and has remained friends with Great Britain swimmer Lauren Short, who teaches at Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre in Sea

  • Feel the fabrics

    A textile day is being run by Worthing Museum and Art Gallery to complement a quilt exhibition. The Chapel Road museum has hosted the event for the past two years and this year's activities will feature demonstrations by a wide range of textile groups

  • Bali bomb mastermind to be shot

    The mother of Bali bomb victim Daniel Braden today expressed concern after the "intellectual mastermind" behind the attack was sentenced to death. Islamic militant Imam Samudra will face a firing squad after being convicted of playing a key role in the

  • Dealers take over beach

    Public school girls attracted by the "gangster" lifestyle have joined drug gangs on Brighton seafront. Police believe pupils at some of the county's top schools are being used to carry drugs by dealers who have turned the beach into a war zone. Traders

  • Hart Beat with Ian Hart

    Rock band REM's 1983 appearance at the Carioca Club is the stuff Worthing musical folklore is made of. If only for no other reason than if everybody who claims to have attended the gig was actually there, I doubt there would have been enough room for

  • Suez veterans to get medals

    Sussex servicemen who fought in the Suez conflict could be honoured with medals as early as Remembrance Sunday. Hove MP Ivor Caplin, a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence, made the pledge in the House of Commons. Sussex veterans fought a long campaign

  • Woman who braved the skies

    On Saturday, June 2, 1913, Miss Violet Paine made history. Thousands of spectators gathered along the seafront on this bright, blustery, summer's afternoon for the first ever scheduled visit by an aeroplane. Several pioneering aeronauts had buzzed the

  • Couple trapped by mining contract

    An elderly couple are trapped in their home because a mining company wants £100,000 to give up its claim on the land. Edward and Jill Day were unaware the deeds to their property, which date back to the Fifties, allow British Gypsum to bore for minerals

  • Age no barrier, says Coppell

    Brighton and Hove Albion chief Steve Coppell has promised the young guns that age is no barrier to selection. Coppell wants to stop the Seagulls losing talented teenagers to other clubs by offering them more opportunities. His pledge follows an impressive

  • Asbestos death

    A man died as a result of handling asbestos in the Merchant Navy, an inquest heard. John Glanville, 59, of Dawn Crescent, Upper Beeding, died at St Barnabas Hospice in Columbia Drive, Worthing, on June 11. West Sussex Assistant Deputy Coroner Martin Milward

  • The price of peace

    I read with interest your former reporter Grant Hodgson's experiences in post-war Iraq (The Argus, August 28). The tragedy of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing the UN's special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, brings home to us all that

  • Shock of tropical bug in lean-to

    A giant tropical spider has been found hiding among the timber in a garden shed in Brighton. Despite its spiky pincers and 5in legs, the creature failed to scare off curious postman Richard Allam when he spotted it while working in his lean-to in Lincoln

  • In too deep

    By the time the Labour Party Conference starts in a couple of weeks' time, the full extent of US involvement in Dr David Kelly's death will have become only too apparent. Only then will we fully see how a British Prime Minister made such a terrible mistake

  • Free pet checks

    Pet owners are being offered free health checks for their animals. Staff at the Northdale Vets' Surgery in Victoria Road, Worthing, will carry out the check-ups as part of National Pet Check Week, a new initiative organised by the People's Dispensary

  • Thank you

    On August 16 we held our annual Flag Day in Worthing. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave money. We raised £2,000, a tremendous effort in just one day. Thanks are also due to those who collected for us and all the buskers

  • Work with us

    It was encouraging to see the objective and accurate article (The Argus, September 3) about the empty properties campaign we are pursuing in Worthing. We have been working on bringing properties back into use for several years but it is only now, with

  • Post office row

    Council bosses have waded into the row over the closures of three post offices. The branches facing the axe are in Busticle Lane, Sompting, and Crabtree Lane and Sompting Road in Lancing. An Arun District Council spokesman said: "Most affected by these

  • Dr Martens: Late winner denies Borough

    A goal seven minutes from time condemned Eastbourne Borough to a 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville. Borough seemed to be on course for a deserved point before James Taylor's 83rd minute strike settled matters. The first half was a scrappy affair

  • War reality

    Well done, Nyana Joti, whose posing as a victim of war, covered with fake blood and lying, as if dead, on Churchill Square's pavement, allegedly caused a ten-year-old child to scream hysterically because it looked so real (The Argus, September 5). And

  • County League: Hawks back on track

    Whitehawk got their season back on track with a 3-0 defeat of East Grinstead in the John O'Hara League Cup. Goals from Simon Rowland, the impressive Ryan McBride and Tommy Pattenden gave Hawks a comfortable win. Manager Ian Chapman said: "Hopefully this

  • Burglary warning

    Police are urging residents to think about safety and lock doors and windows following a spate of burglaries. In the last two weeks of August there were 14 house burglaries in Lancing when offenders entered via insecure doors or windows and helped themselves

  • Rap for airport security

    Security at Gatwick has been criticised ahead of tomorrow's second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Chris Yates, editor of transport defence magazine Jane's Transport, said there were serious shortfalls in airport security. His attack

  • Dark side of beach life

    Millions of people have enjoyed coming to Brighton beach during the summer heatwave, soaking up the sun with their families. But the pleasant atmosphere can be startlingly different behind cover of darkness, when clubs and pubs open for business. Brighton

  • What waste

    Well, what a surprise, Brighton and Hove City Council's flamboyant but disastrous chief executive, David Panter, has been wasting public money again. What on earth are some councillors doing defending such actions? I have witnessed first hand one of Mr

  • Dr Martens: Marney nets again

    Crawley 2 Cambridge 0: Crawley snapped out of the gloom of their frustrating draw on Saturday by notching a comfortable win despite being reduced to ten men. First-half goals by Daniel Marney and Mo Harkin secured three points for the Reds in an assured

  • Please don't make us pay for care

    To anybody who is sitting on the board at Brighton Town Hall tomorrow and has a vote to decide if people with learning difficulties should pay for their own day care, please read the following as it is written from the heart: Forty four years ago, a male

  • Farm homes bid

    Derelict offices in a remote part of countryside are to be converted into holiday homes. Lychpole Farm, which lies north-west of Beggar's Bush in Sompting, has applied to convert two traditional flint barn buildings after trying unsuccessfully for almost

  • Age no barrier, says Coppell

    Brighton and Hove Albion chief Steve Coppell has promised the young guns that age is no barrier to selection. Coppell wants to stop the Seagulls losing talented teenagers to other clubs by offering them more opportunities. His pledge follows an impressive

  • Belarus boost

    A Findon-based initiative helping prevent babies being abandoned in Belarus has been awarded £126,000. The International Grants Committee of the National Lottery has agreed to fund the Leaves of Hope project. The scheme is aimed at trying to prevent babies

  • Golf: Course judged above par

    Golfers are flocking to a Worthing club thanks to a £400,000 investment which has trebled its membership. The future of Hill Barn Golf Course was in doubt when members became frustrated with its ageing facilities. Now, club membership has leapt from 87

  • Dutch elm fears

    Dutch elm disease has flared up in Worthing again. Staff employed by the borough council's parks department are planning to fell infected trees. Earlier this year, they cut down numerous immature trees at The Gallops in Findon Valley. Many had sprung

  • Fun of the fair

    The Findon Sheep Fair is taking place on Saturday, despite strict regulations imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The fair used to involve a huge auction of sheep and a host of other attractions, including Robert Harris's traditional fair ground

  • No unaffordable pay deals, Brown tells TUC

    Chancellor Gordon Brown has pledged not to yield to pressures such as unaffordable pay demands that would "squander" the UK's hard won economic stability. Mr Brown told the TUC Congress the Government had managed the fastest improvement on spending on

  • How companies can boost communities

    Good causes across Sussex will be Quids In with a little help from the business community. No company is too big or small to take part in a new joint fund-raising effort in aid of The Argus Appeal and The Martlets Hospice, Hove. Both charities are urging

  • Blaze grief of family

    Members of a family devastated by the deaths of a mother and daughter in a house fire have spoken of their grief. Tributes to Sally-Ann Baxter-Smith, 38, and her daughter Lois, 14, were made as police released without charge a man they had arrested on

  • Georgian life

    Historians are staging a series of talks on Georgian Worthing. The lectures, covering 1760 to 1830, take place at Worthing library lecture theatre in Richmond Road over six weeks from October 7 to November 11. Ron Kerridge and Mike Standing, who have

  • TUC puzzle as Blair changes speech

    When Tony Blair gave a speech to union chiefs in Brighton last night it didn't quite match up with hard-hitting advance extracts handed to the Press. The Prime Minister made a fleeting visit to speak at a private function for top brass attending the TUC

  • Feel the fabrics

    A textile day is being run by Worthing Museum and Art Gallery to complement a quilt exhibition. The Chapel Road museum has hosted the event for the past two years and this year's activities will feature demonstrations by a wide range of textile groups

  • MPs debate flood defence progress

    Flood defences must protect the whole of Lewes and not divide communities, ministers were being told tonight. The town's MP, Norman Baker, has secured a Westminster debate to discuss the lack of progress in building vital barriers. Mr Baker, the Liberal

  • Bali bomb mastermind to be shot

    The mother of Bali bomb victim Daniel Braden today expressed concern after the "intellectual mastermind" behind the attack was sentenced to death. Islamic militant Imam Samudra will face a firing squad after being convicted of playing a key role in the

  • Hart Beat with Ian Hart

    Rock band REM's 1983 appearance at the Carioca Club is the stuff Worthing musical folklore is made of. If only for no other reason than if everybody who claims to have attended the gig was actually there, I doubt there would have been enough room for

  • Eco worries over ghost ships

    A convoy of toxic ghost ships could sail 15 miles off the Sussex coast on its way to be scrapped. Thirteen former United States naval ships will be towed 4,000 miles from Virginia to a Hartlepool dockyard where they will be dismantled. Councillors are

  • Jail threat to tearaway, 16

    A teenage tearaway who is part of a car crime gang has been ordered to behave or face jail. Daniel Bowler, 16, of Lynchet Close, Brighton, was made the subject of a two-year antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) at Brighton Magistrates Court. If he breaches

  • Age no barrier, says Coppell

    Brighton and Hove Albion chief Steve Coppell has promised the young guns that age is no barrier to selection. Coppell wants to stop the Seagulls losing talented teenagers to other clubs by offering them more opportunities. His pledge follows an impressive

  • Asbestos death

    A man died as a result of handling asbestos in the Merchant Navy, an inquest heard. John Glanville, 59, of Dawn Crescent, Upper Beeding, died at St Barnabas Hospice in Columbia Drive, Worthing, on June 11. West Sussex Assistant Deputy Coroner Martin Milward

  • Jealous assault

    A man had his legs squashed between two cars during a heated argument with his girlfriend's former partner. Worthing Magistrates Court heard how William Hibbert, 41, had the new boyfriend pinned by his legs between the two vehicles. Unemployed Hibbert

  • Success

    I would like to thank The Argus for printing details of the Thyroid Friends' Group. Judging by the turn-out at our first meeting, thanks at the end and phone calls afterwards, it was a great success and much-needed by those attending. Jemma, who is just

  • Shock of tropical bug in lean-to

    A giant tropical spider has been found hiding among the timber in a garden shed in Brighton. Despite its spiky pincers and 5in legs, the creature failed to scare off curious postman Richard Allam when he spotted it while working in his lean-to in Lincoln

  • Who cares?

    I have done some research into pensions and benefits and have found out that, if a woman was born after April 6, 1955, she will not be paid an old age pension and men and women will not be eligible for the minimum income guarantee and the Pension Credit

  • Lamp causes fire

    A woman's flat was badly damaged by fire after she left a bedside lamp on. Firefighters battled to put out the blaze in a ground-floor flat in Gratwick Road, Worthing, at 11pm last Wednesday but the heat and smoke caused extensive damage. Heat from the

  • Car smashes into living room

    A mother had an amazing escape when a car smashed through the front of her home. Lisa Henley, 37, narrowly escaped with her life when the vehicle careered into the living room of her £100,000 bungalow. Police and firefighters raced to the scene in East

  • Breakdance plea

    Organisers of a dance music project aiming to produce the next Fatboy Slim are urgently seeking a sponsor. Gravity - The Force is a countywide project due to hit the streets of Worthing soon. Designed to inspire youngsters aged between 13 and 19, it will

  • Between You And Me, by Vanora Leigh

    In July I really wanted to do it; in August I couldn't wait to get started; in September I got cold feet. Learning Spanish, that's what we're talking about - learning Spanish at evening class, to be more precise. Serious self-improvement has the greatest

  • Bungalow gutted by fire

    Firefighters battled for three hours to control a fierce blaze which ripped through a Mid Sussex bungalow. Teams from Haywards Heath were called to Rout Farm in Colwood Lane, Warninglid, near Haywards Heath, at 2.40pm yesterday. The inferno wrecked the

  • £500k claim for islanders' hotel bill

    The leader of West Sussex County Council has written to Tony Blair demanding £500,000 to cover the cost of sheltering more than 100 exiled islanders. Refugees from Diego Garcia are staying in a hotel in Crawley, each costing the council £1,000 a week.

  • Blair rides the Brighton line

    Prime Minister Tony Blair rubbed shoulders with Sussex rail commuters as he headed to Brighton to address union delegates. But while some were glad to see Mr Blair on the 17.07 from Victoria - it arrived on time at 18.17 - others were not. Annabel Hilder

  • Holy man's crime spree

    A Buddhist priest went on a crime spree after turning to drink, a court heard. Martin Shambrook, 52, now receiving treatment at a mental health care unit, pleaded guilty to carrying out 14 offences over three months. He admitted stealing and drinking,

  • Vicar raps lazy parents

    A vicar has condemned parents who want to protect their children from paedophiles but still let them roam the streets and commit crime. The Rev Terry Stratford, whose church borders the parish where eight-year-old Sarah Payne was abducted, spoke out after

  • Woman, 79, dies in dustcart horror

    A Worthing pensioner was killed when her car and a dustcart collided head-on. The 79-year-old woman was driving with a friend in Water Lane, Angmering, when the accident happened, at 11.53am yesterday. It is believed the lorry overturned on to the silver

  • Poll spotlights cinema doubts

    Entertainment chiefs planning to revamp a Worthing's historic Dome cinema are facing an uphill struggle to maintain public support. A council report today says only half the people who took part in a consultation exercise felt the ageing Dome, in Marine

  • Two face drug charges

    Two people were appearing in court at Eastbourne today on drug dealing charges. James King, 32, and Dionne Clarke, 38, both of South Avenue, were arrested on Monday morning after police raided a house in the resort's Old Town. They were appearing before

  • Jay suspect's tragic end

    A man who had been accused of killing father-of-two Jay Abatan outside a night club hanged himself while suffering from depression, an inquest heard. Graham Curtis, 42, and another man had been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Abatan but the allegations

  • Blaze grief of family

    Members of a family devastated by the deaths of a mother and daughter in a house fire in Eastbourne have spoken of their grief. Tributes to Sally-Ann Baxter-Smith, 38, and her daughter Lois, 14, were made as police released without charge a man they had

  • Post office row

    Council bosses have waded into the row over the closures of three post offices. The branches facing the axe are in Busticle Lane, Sompting, and Crabtree Lane and Sompting Road in Lancing. An Arun District Council spokesman said: "Most affected by these

  • Police thinking is completely absurd

    Do police officers have to pass an intelligence test before being promoted? I seriously doubt it. I refer to just three of many recent inexplicable decisions taken by Sussex police chiefs. A Worthing policeman said he would be only writing to the parents

  • College boss calls for fees hike

    University of Brighton chief Sir David Watson is to call for a £900 increase in student tuition fees. The vice-chancellor will argue increasing the flat rate to £2,000 is better than government plans for controversial "top-up" fees. Sir David said he

  • County League: Hawks back on track

    Whitehawk got their season back on track with a 3-0 defeat of East Grinstead in the John O'Hara League Cup. Goals from Simon Rowland, the impressive Ryan McBride and Tommy Pattenden gave Hawks a comfortable win. Manager Ian Chapman said: "Hopefully this

  • Burglary warning

    Police are urging residents to think about safety and lock doors and windows following a spate of burglaries. In the last two weeks of August there were 14 house burglaries in Lancing when offenders entered via insecure doors or windows and helped themselves

  • Old favourite

    Seventies rock star Alvin Stardust will be playing Captain Hook this Christmas at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing. He will star in Peter Pan opposite his wife, Julie Paton, in the title role. Kids will not have a clue who Alvin is now he is 61 and eligible

  • Football round-up: Rocks are beaten

    Bognor remained second in Ryman League premier division despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat away to Aylesbury. The Rocks were left to rue a string of missed chances in a hard-fought contest. Having weathered the early home pressure, Rupert Sansom could have

  • Good value

    While we appreciate that all due care needs to be taken over council spending, it does seem that the current headlines are just a storm in a wine glass. It is obvious the chief executive will be spending a £100 per week on entertainment. He is our City's

  • Football: Rogers bags winner for Worthing

    Paul Rogers grabbed a dramatic stoppage time winner for Worthing last night, just when they thought they had been done up like kippers. Referee Eric Mackrell disallowed a Sam Francis strike and waved away two clear penalties in a bewildering 12 minute

  • Floral awards

    Floral displays earned awards at the Arun in Bloom and Arun Towns in Bloom competitions this year. The winners were honoured at an award ceremony in Littlehampton Civic Centre, hosted by Arun's chairman Councillor Dr James Walsh. The Arun in Bloom competition

  • Dark side of beach life

    Millions of people have enjoyed coming to Brighton beach during the summer heatwave, soaking up the sun with their families. But the pleasant atmosphere can be startlingly different behind cover of darkness, when clubs and pubs open for business. Brighton

  • Ryman: Rooks a class apart

    Lewes 6, Horsham 1: Horsham boss John Maggs is in no doubt Lewes will win the Ryman League division one south title this season. After all, he had just seen his side taken apart at the Dripping Pan last night. A hat-trick by former Wimbledon trainee Ahmet

  • Comment: Ian Hart

    Saturday night wouldn't be Saturday night in my household without a visit to the 24-hour garage to buy a Sports Argus after the Albion game. Vintage Vinners is usually the first page I turn to. John's subject last weekend was former Albion manager Alan

  • Cricket: Kirtley left out of test squad

    There was misery for Sussex fast bowler James Kirtley today when he was left out of England's Test squad for the winter tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Kirtley, who took 13 wickets in two Test appearances against South Africa earlier this summer, is

  • Farm homes bid

    Derelict offices in a remote part of countryside are to be converted into holiday homes. Lychpole Farm, which lies north-west of Beggar's Bush in Sompting, has applied to convert two traditional flint barn buildings after trying unsuccessfully for almost

  • Age no barrier, says Coppell

    Brighton and Hove Albion chief Steve Coppell has promised the young guns that age is no barrier to selection. Coppell wants to stop the Seagulls losing talented teenagers to other clubs by offering them more opportunities. His pledge follows an impressive

  • French market

    A French market is coming to Worthing again this weekend. There will be approximately 30 stalls selling a wide section of continental goods, including bread, cheeses, tablecloths and soaps. Marche Francais UK, which runs traditional markets across the

  • Big social diary for directors

    The Institute of Directors (IOD) has organised a number of activities to keep Sussex businesses busy this autumn. Events includes a networking business breakfast at Ashdown Park Hotel, near Forest Row, on September 18 and an evening on knowledge management

  • No unaffordable pay deals, Brown tells TUC

    Chancellor Gordon Brown has pledged not to yield to pressures such as unaffordable pay demands that would "squander" the UK's hard won economic stability. Mr Brown told the TUC Congress the Government had managed the fastest improvement on spending on

  • How companies can boost communities

    Good causes across Sussex will be Quids In with a little help from the business community. No company is too big or small to take part in a new joint fund-raising effort in aid of The Argus Appeal and The Martlets Hospice, Hove. Both charities are urging

  • Two more years for Thameslink

    Rail chiefs have extended the Thameslink franchise to operate between Brighton and Bedford for another two years. The Strategic Rail Authority announced it would begin talks with parent company Govia about extending the franchise, which was due for renewal

  • OAPs in mining feud

    An elderly couple are trapped in their home because a mining company wants £100,000 to give up its claim on the land. Edward and Jill Day were unaware the deeds to their property, which date back to the Fifties, allow British Gypsum to bore for minerals

  • Dealers take over beach

    Public school girls attracted by the "gangster" lifestyle have joined drug gangs on Brighton seafront. Police believe pupils at some of the county's top schools are being used to carry drugs by dealers who have turned the beach into a war zone. Traders

  • Injured driver improves

    A property developer was said to be improving in hospital today after his classic car overturned during a racing festival. Rupert Avon, 38, of High Street, Steyning, was driving a C-type Jaguar during a practice session on Friday for the Goodwood Revival

  • Blaze grief of family

    Members of a family devastated by the deaths of a mother and daughter in a house fire have spoken of their grief. Tributes to Sally-Ann Baxter-Smith, 38, and her daughter Lois, 14, were made as police released without charge a man they had arrested on

  • Georgian life

    Historians are staging a series of talks on Georgian Worthing. The lectures, covering 1760 to 1830, take place at Worthing library lecture theatre in Richmond Road over six weeks from October 7 to November 11. Ron Kerridge and Mike Standing, who have

  • TUC puzzle as Blair changes speech

    When Tony Blair gave a speech to union chiefs in Brighton last night it didn't quite match up with hard-hitting advance extracts handed to the Press. The Prime Minister made a fleeting visit to speak at a private function for top brass attending the TUC

  • Jay suspect's tragic end

    A man who had been accused of killing father-of-two Jay Abatan outside a night club hanged himself while suffering from depression, an inquest heard. Graham Curtis, 42, and another man had been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Abatan but the allegations

  • Escaper back in custody

    A convict who absconded from a jail and led police on a dangerous pursuit after breaking into a series of cars is back in jail. Daniel Skillin, 24, left Ford Open Prison on June 30 while serving a five-year sentence for attempted robbery. After making

  • MPs debate flood defence progress

    Flood defences must protect the whole of Lewes and not divide communities, ministers were being told tonight. The town's MP, Norman Baker, has secured a Westminster debate to discuss the lack of progress in building vital barriers. Mr Baker, the Liberal

  • Hunt for hate attack pair

    Police are hunting two men who attacked a gay couple outside the Palace Pier in Brighton. A 19-year-old man from Swindon and his 38-year-old boyfriend from Australia were passing the pier at about 11.45pm last Wednesday when two men began shouting homophobic

  • A Wry Look at Worthing

    Worthing's taxi drivers are generally a smart lot, courtesy of a council rule that states they must be at all times clean and tidy in appearance. The dress code bans swimming costume and singlets, which won't trouble one particular cabbie, who wears the

  • Former festival director dies

    An entertainment pioneer who became the first artistic director of the Brighton Festival has died at the age of 84. Sir Ian Hunter also ran the Edinburgh Festival during its early years and founded other festivals at Bath, the City of London, Malvern

  • Eco worries over ghost ships

    A convoy of toxic ghost ships could sail 15 miles off the Sussex coast on its way to be scrapped. Thirteen former United States naval ships will be towed 4,000 miles from Virginia to a Hartlepool dockyard where they will be dismantled. Councillors are

  • Jail threat to tearaway, 16

    A teenage tearaway who is part of a car crime gang has been ordered to behave or face jail. Daniel Bowler, 16, of Lynchet Close, Brighton, was made the subject of a two-year antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) at Brighton Magistrates Court. If he breaches